August 29, 2011: Although the government has arrested over 200 suspected Boko Haram members, there have been few prosecutions. Apparently many judges refuse to try Boko Haram members, because the Islamic radicals have a reputation for murdering those involved in opposing them. These attacks include family members. Judges either do not believe the police can protect them, or do not wish to live under threat of attack.

It is generally believed that Boko Haram is using suicide bomb attacks outside the Moslem north in an attempt to cause widespread chaos. With the federal and state government distracted by this, Boko Haram could take control of large areas. This is fantasy, as Nigeria is already largely chaos. Boko Haram’s official goal is the imposition of Islamic law (Sharia) on the country, in order to eliminate the chaos and corruption. Most Nigerians are opposed to the use of Sharia like this. Boko Haram is not the only Islamic radical group to show up in Nigeria, but it is the first one to possess the ability to carry out numerous suicide bomber attacks. The government still has a task force studying Boko Haram and figuring out what to do. If they ask the Americans or Israelis, they will discover that you can stop the bombings by hunting down the few Boko Haram members who know how to build the bombs.

August 27, 2011: Off the coast, pirates boarded a Cameroonian passenger ship (carrying 150 people) and took the captain away. Inspired by the Somalia pirates, the Nigerian pirates have been increasingly kidnapping senior officers on ships, in addition to their usual theft of whatever they could carry away. These kidnappings do not always work, as the police know many of the usual suspects, and where they hang out on the coast. So the pirates have developed other ways to make money. In this case, the armed men appeared to be operating an extortion scam, and argued with the captain over non-payment of the “monthly security tax.” The captain said he had already paid; the armed men disagreed, and took the captain with them.

August 26, 2011: In the capital, a car bomb went off in a UN compound, killing 19 people. Boko Haram claimed credit, and said they did it to punish the UN and the United States for aiding the Nigerian government in oppressing Moslems.

August 21, 2011:  In central Nigeria, Moslems attacked a Christian village and killed two people.

August 20, 2011: In the northeastern city of Maiduguri, gunmen entered the home of a policeman, and shot the home owner, two other police and a civilian who were watching television together. Boko Haram is believed responsible, although it could have been a criminal gang dealing with a troublesome policeman.

August 19, 2011: In the northeastern city of Maiduguri, police arrested a man suspected of supplying explosives to Boko Haram for suicide bombing attacks.

August 16, 2011: For the second time this year, the army is trying military personnel for assisting Boko Haram members to escape from military jails. Earlier this year, it was NCOs being tried, but this time the court martial is for a brigadier general.

August 15, 2011: In the northwest, five armed men attacked a police station, killing four policemen and two civilians caught in the crossfire. One of the attackers was captured, and it’s believed the gunmen were criminals, not Boko Haram.  

In the northeastern city of Maiduguri, police shot and killed a man driving an explosives laden car towards the local police headquarters. It was apparently a suicide car bombing attempt.